[SCENE] I love you, mommy, but I don't want to!
Pearl:*Pearl is woken up by the nice busdriver. She got up early to go to the prison to see her mother for the first time in almost a year. She curls her fingers around the cake box she's carrying so hard that it dents it slightly.* Th-thank you sir. *She says to him as she gets off the bus.*
Pearl:*It takes her a minute to get the front desk guard's attention, but he listens nicely to her as she asks him to let her see her mother, and brings her into a featureless room with a table and two chairs in it to wait.*
Morgan *In her cell, Morgan is still busy dressing for the day, and she certainly has a few words for the poor guard entering her cell at this modest moment. The guard announces his trump card over her with a stutter: Y-your d-daughter's h-here.*
Morgan *Her hair is still down, but she mustn't make Pearl wait. It has been so long, neither of them must wait any longer. Her thigh-length hair trailing behind her, she hurries the man down the corridor to the visitor's room. The guard seems to sink a little against the door as he closes it behind them, but Morgan only brightens.* My-- precious Pearl... You've grown up so much...
Pearl *She smiles but it doesn't quite reach her eyes.* Mother... *She says and she steps only slightly reluctantly forward to hug her mother's waist.*
Morgan: *Morgan, all pretentious poise lost, throws her arms around Pearl's shoulders, and lets her hands rest on the delicate bow of hair at the top of her head.* My darling, how happy I am to see you. You look so well. Who has been doing your hair? *She has already assumed it is not Mystic Maya, for that girl's own topknot is a lazy mockery of fine updos, and that reassures her. Someone besides Mystic Maya is taking care of Pearl.*
Pearl I did... I did it myself, Mother. *She fiddles with her fingers.* I can do it by myself now.
Pearl *She looks up* What about your hair, Mother? *She reaches around her mother and takes some of it.* It's all down...
Morgan: It's beautiful, my dear. You did a very good job. *Morgan touches her own hair, suddenly conscious of how under dressed she is.* Oh, yes. Your mother was still dressing when this good sir came for me. I hadn't the time to put it up.
Pearl: *She looks down.* I'm sorry I came so early. I wanted to be diligent.
Morgan *Morgan smiles wistfully.* I was so happy to hear you had come... I didn't even care.
Pearl: Um, I have a tiny brush in my bag I can brush it if you want...
Pearl: *Pearl goes into her bag and gets out a child-size brush.*
Morgan: Would you, my dear? You certainly are tall enough to reach, now. *Morgan's smile becomes slightly sad, and she reaches to touch Pearl's head again.*
Pearl: *She smiles too.* It hurt a little because I grew too fast.
I can only reach if you sit down, though.
Morgan: *Morgan takes one of the chairs and sits gingerly, having rarely gone this far in her day without putting her hair out of the way.*
Morgan: I see you've brought something else. That's a cake box, isn't it? And...
Pearl: *She starts to brush in long strokes, bending over to get the end of the hair.* Yes, I brought you strawberry desserts. Oh, and a book.
Morgan: You are the most thoughtful child, my darling. I have missed my strawberry desserts. *Morgan tries to look down, but her hair is pulling her back.*
Morgan: A book...? Would you like me to read it to you? What did you bring?
Pearl: Oh! *She stops brushing for a moment and runs to get the book.* It's for you to read. I found it in your room when I was looking for another book. I tried to read it but it was too hard. *She hands her mother a copy of Machiavelli's The Prince.*
Morgan: *Morgan blinks once. Twice.*
Morgan: I suppose this isn't a book we could read together, no. *She blinks again* ...How much did you try to read, my dear?
Pearl: Um, I didn't get much past the first page or so. It's about princes and how they take over things I think. There were a lot of hard words. *She chews lightly on her thumbnail.*
Morgan: It is a very hard book. *Morgan smiles weakly.* Even I had to look up the hard words. But perhaps one day you'll be able to read it.
Morgan: It could teach you much about how to rule our village.
Pearl: .... *her lip trembles.*
Pearl: Mommy I don't want to.
Morgan: You don't... want to? *Morgan's jaw drops far enough to place a whole strawberry cake in her mouth.*
Morgan: But... why not, my dear?
Pearl: B-because! All the people- Everyone there says that you and Mystic Misty always fought and... I don't want to fight with anyone. I just want to help people... *She looks down, brushing her bangs away from her face.*
Morgan: *Morgan's lip trembles, and she is silent for a long moment as she processes this.*
Morgan: Pearl... What happened between Mystic Misty and myself had nothing to do with the Master.
Pearl: *She crosses her arms, tilting her head.* It doesn't matter, someone's feelings got hurt...
Morgan: My dear... *Morgan swallows.* Mystic Misty did not create conflict because she was the Master.
Morgan: She did so because she was Misty Fey... and Pearl, you have too great a heart to ever hurt somebody because you are Pearl Fey.
Pearl: *There's a long, long pause, and Pearl's face looks deeply sad.* I almost hurt somebody last year, mother.
Morgan: No, you--
Morgan: *Morgan spoke too quickly, and cuts herself off.* My dear... my dear... *It is a repetition solely intended to stall for time.* You were not going to hurt anyone. The spirit...
Pearl: Mother you taught me to be responsible when I called spirits. It would be irresponsible to call a spirit to hurt someone. *tears come to her eyes.* You taught me that!
Morgan: *Morgan hangs her head.* Yes. Yes, I did.
Morgan: I behaved rashly, my dear, and I am punished every day in this place, for that.
Pearl: *Pearl frowns angrily.* You were already here when you did the wrong thing. *She trembles.* I miss you and it's not fair. You said you were thinking of me but now you're here and... *She bites back her tears.*
Morgan: I was thinking of you! *Morgan mewls softy, as if she too is choking back a sob.* This entire ordeal-- from the beginning-- all I ever wanted was for you to have a happier life than me!
Morgan: That's... that's all a mother ever wants for her child... *Morgan buries her face in her hands.*
Pearl: *In response to her mother's tears, Pearl sobs loudly and runs up, clinging to her mother's obi. She can't really form any words, overwhelmed by guilt that she made her mother cry.*
Morgan: *Morgan reaches down to embrace her daughter again, shoulders racking with sobs.* Oh... Pearl...
Morgan: *She leans to bury her face in that perfect hairstyle the girl had worked so hard on.*
Pearl: I'm sorry! I'm sorry! *she says through sobs.* But I just don't understand!
Morgan: M-Mystic Misty turned our family upside down... All... All I wanted was to set it right...
Morgan: My dear... oh my dear... it's not your fault...
Pearl:*vanishingly softly* M-m-mystic Maya is our family too, mother... *She tugs on the obi, sniffling.*
Morgan: *Morgan recoils slightly.* Yes...
Morgan: She abandoned Maya, that I had to raise you both as sisters. But... Mystic Maya should have been our branch family...
Pearl: *Pearl lets go of her mother, smoothing the fabric down. She walks over to the table where she left the brush when she retrieved the book and picks it up.* I don't want to talk about this anymore, mother. *She says, sniffling.*
Morgan: *Morgan slumps into her chair again, sitting on her hair.* I'm sorry, my dear. It's... my burden, not your own.
Morgan: We won't speak of it again.
Pearl: *Pearl sighs deeply and climbs into her mother's lap.* I don't want to grow up anymore. I'm tired of this.
Morgan: *Morgan wraps her arms around Pearl.* As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.
Morgan: *Her fingers tighten slightly on Pearl's shoulder as she remembers just how long this is.*
Pearl: *Pearl is silent... After a while, her shoulders shake once, then again. She cries silently into her mother's chest, taking care to wipe her eyes on her sleeve instead of her mother's kimono.*
Morgan: *Morgan rests her cheek on the hair bow, and rocks back and forth in the chair; her baby is too big to cradle.* Shhh...
Pearl *Pearl's sobs slacken and die away, her breaths become deeper and she relaxes slowly against her mother. She sighs and very softly says,* I'm sorry I didn't come for a long time, mother.
Morgan: *Morgan sighs, too.* All is forgiven, my dear. *She kisses the top of Pearl's head.*
Morgan: Would you like me to fix your hair?
Pearl: *A very faint nod.*
Morgan: Very well. *Morgan reaches for the brush, and plies the bead out of her hair.* You really did a very good job, yourself, my dear.
Guard: *The guard at the door looks vaguely uneasy, as bashing people over the head is something of a past time on his block. Of course, it is a small brush, and this is the prisoner's daughter.*
Pearl: *Pearl leans forward, allowing her hair to be brushed. She has a very conflicted expression on her face that her mother cannot see... Looking for all the world like a martyr.*
Morgan: *Morgan, conversely, has a soft smile on her normally stern face, as she brushes her daughter's hair out in long, slow strokes, lingering over the physical contact that she hasn't had in a year, and may not for another year. She runs each side of the bow through her hand, from root to tip, before twisting it into its former shape.*
Pearl: *Pearl squirms slightly, jumping down off her mother's lap.* Um, I have training this afternoon, mother. If I don't catch the 11:46 bus I will be late. *She looks abashed.*
Morgan: *Morgan bites her lip.* Of course, my dear. You mustn't be stuck in the city until tomorrow's morning bus.
Morgan: *She reaches for another hug.* I'm so glad you came, my pet.
Pearl: *Hugs her mother back* I'll come back.
Morgan: *Morgan kisses her daughter's head again, carefully.* I know, my dear. I love you.
Pearl: *whispering* I love you too.
Morgan: *Morgan smiles softly as she rises.* And thank you for bringing my favourite things from home. You are sweet.
Pearl: You're very welcome. *She takes her brush and puts it in her bag, collecting it and slinging it over her shoulder.*
Pearl: *With a doleful look.* Goodbye mother. *She lets the guard guide her out of the room and through the hallway.*
Morgan: *Morgan slowly gathers Pearl's gifts in her arms, The scent of strawberries wafts out to her as she clutches the cake box, and she smiles again. Her step is light as she and her guard return to the block, trailing a half-brushed mess of hair and a delectable aroma.*
Pearl:*It takes her a minute to get the front desk guard's attention, but he listens nicely to her as she asks him to let her see her mother, and brings her into a featureless room with a table and two chairs in it to wait.*
Morgan *In her cell, Morgan is still busy dressing for the day, and she certainly has a few words for the poor guard entering her cell at this modest moment. The guard announces his trump card over her with a stutter: Y-your d-daughter's h-here.*
Morgan *Her hair is still down, but she mustn't make Pearl wait. It has been so long, neither of them must wait any longer. Her thigh-length hair trailing behind her, she hurries the man down the corridor to the visitor's room. The guard seems to sink a little against the door as he closes it behind them, but Morgan only brightens.* My-- precious Pearl... You've grown up so much...
Pearl *She smiles but it doesn't quite reach her eyes.* Mother... *She says and she steps only slightly reluctantly forward to hug her mother's waist.*
Morgan: *Morgan, all pretentious poise lost, throws her arms around Pearl's shoulders, and lets her hands rest on the delicate bow of hair at the top of her head.* My darling, how happy I am to see you. You look so well. Who has been doing your hair? *She has already assumed it is not Mystic Maya, for that girl's own topknot is a lazy mockery of fine updos, and that reassures her. Someone besides Mystic Maya is taking care of Pearl.*
Pearl I did... I did it myself, Mother. *She fiddles with her fingers.* I can do it by myself now.
Pearl *She looks up* What about your hair, Mother? *She reaches around her mother and takes some of it.* It's all down...
Morgan: It's beautiful, my dear. You did a very good job. *Morgan touches her own hair, suddenly conscious of how under dressed she is.* Oh, yes. Your mother was still dressing when this good sir came for me. I hadn't the time to put it up.
Pearl: *She looks down.* I'm sorry I came so early. I wanted to be diligent.
Morgan *Morgan smiles wistfully.* I was so happy to hear you had come... I didn't even care.
Pearl: Um, I have a tiny brush in my bag I can brush it if you want...
Pearl: *Pearl goes into her bag and gets out a child-size brush.*
Morgan: Would you, my dear? You certainly are tall enough to reach, now. *Morgan's smile becomes slightly sad, and she reaches to touch Pearl's head again.*
Pearl: *She smiles too.* It hurt a little because I grew too fast.
I can only reach if you sit down, though.
Morgan: *Morgan takes one of the chairs and sits gingerly, having rarely gone this far in her day without putting her hair out of the way.*
Morgan: I see you've brought something else. That's a cake box, isn't it? And...
Pearl: *She starts to brush in long strokes, bending over to get the end of the hair.* Yes, I brought you strawberry desserts. Oh, and a book.
Morgan: You are the most thoughtful child, my darling. I have missed my strawberry desserts. *Morgan tries to look down, but her hair is pulling her back.*
Morgan: A book...? Would you like me to read it to you? What did you bring?
Pearl: Oh! *She stops brushing for a moment and runs to get the book.* It's for you to read. I found it in your room when I was looking for another book. I tried to read it but it was too hard. *She hands her mother a copy of Machiavelli's The Prince.*
Morgan: *Morgan blinks once. Twice.*
Morgan: I suppose this isn't a book we could read together, no. *She blinks again* ...How much did you try to read, my dear?
Pearl: Um, I didn't get much past the first page or so. It's about princes and how they take over things I think. There were a lot of hard words. *She chews lightly on her thumbnail.*
Morgan: It is a very hard book. *Morgan smiles weakly.* Even I had to look up the hard words. But perhaps one day you'll be able to read it.
Morgan: It could teach you much about how to rule our village.
Pearl: .... *her lip trembles.*
Pearl: Mommy I don't want to.
Morgan: You don't... want to? *Morgan's jaw drops far enough to place a whole strawberry cake in her mouth.*
Morgan: But... why not, my dear?
Pearl: B-because! All the people- Everyone there says that you and Mystic Misty always fought and... I don't want to fight with anyone. I just want to help people... *She looks down, brushing her bangs away from her face.*
Morgan: *Morgan's lip trembles, and she is silent for a long moment as she processes this.*
Morgan: Pearl... What happened between Mystic Misty and myself had nothing to do with the Master.
Pearl: *She crosses her arms, tilting her head.* It doesn't matter, someone's feelings got hurt...
Morgan: My dear... *Morgan swallows.* Mystic Misty did not create conflict because she was the Master.
Morgan: She did so because she was Misty Fey... and Pearl, you have too great a heart to ever hurt somebody because you are Pearl Fey.
Pearl: *There's a long, long pause, and Pearl's face looks deeply sad.* I almost hurt somebody last year, mother.
Morgan: No, you--
Morgan: *Morgan spoke too quickly, and cuts herself off.* My dear... my dear... *It is a repetition solely intended to stall for time.* You were not going to hurt anyone. The spirit...
Pearl: Mother you taught me to be responsible when I called spirits. It would be irresponsible to call a spirit to hurt someone. *tears come to her eyes.* You taught me that!
Morgan: *Morgan hangs her head.* Yes. Yes, I did.
Morgan: I behaved rashly, my dear, and I am punished every day in this place, for that.
Pearl: *Pearl frowns angrily.* You were already here when you did the wrong thing. *She trembles.* I miss you and it's not fair. You said you were thinking of me but now you're here and... *She bites back her tears.*
Morgan: I was thinking of you! *Morgan mewls softy, as if she too is choking back a sob.* This entire ordeal-- from the beginning-- all I ever wanted was for you to have a happier life than me!
Morgan: That's... that's all a mother ever wants for her child... *Morgan buries her face in her hands.*
Pearl: *In response to her mother's tears, Pearl sobs loudly and runs up, clinging to her mother's obi. She can't really form any words, overwhelmed by guilt that she made her mother cry.*
Morgan: *Morgan reaches down to embrace her daughter again, shoulders racking with sobs.* Oh... Pearl...
Morgan: *She leans to bury her face in that perfect hairstyle the girl had worked so hard on.*
Pearl: I'm sorry! I'm sorry! *she says through sobs.* But I just don't understand!
Morgan: M-Mystic Misty turned our family upside down... All... All I wanted was to set it right...
Morgan: My dear... oh my dear... it's not your fault...
Pearl:*vanishingly softly* M-m-mystic Maya is our family too, mother... *She tugs on the obi, sniffling.*
Morgan: *Morgan recoils slightly.* Yes...
Morgan: She abandoned Maya, that I had to raise you both as sisters. But... Mystic Maya should have been our branch family...
Pearl: *Pearl lets go of her mother, smoothing the fabric down. She walks over to the table where she left the brush when she retrieved the book and picks it up.* I don't want to talk about this anymore, mother. *She says, sniffling.*
Morgan: *Morgan slumps into her chair again, sitting on her hair.* I'm sorry, my dear. It's... my burden, not your own.
Morgan: We won't speak of it again.
Pearl: *Pearl sighs deeply and climbs into her mother's lap.* I don't want to grow up anymore. I'm tired of this.
Morgan: *Morgan wraps her arms around Pearl.* As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.
Morgan: *Her fingers tighten slightly on Pearl's shoulder as she remembers just how long this is.*
Pearl: *Pearl is silent... After a while, her shoulders shake once, then again. She cries silently into her mother's chest, taking care to wipe her eyes on her sleeve instead of her mother's kimono.*
Morgan: *Morgan rests her cheek on the hair bow, and rocks back and forth in the chair; her baby is too big to cradle.* Shhh...
Pearl *Pearl's sobs slacken and die away, her breaths become deeper and she relaxes slowly against her mother. She sighs and very softly says,* I'm sorry I didn't come for a long time, mother.
Morgan: *Morgan sighs, too.* All is forgiven, my dear. *She kisses the top of Pearl's head.*
Morgan: Would you like me to fix your hair?
Pearl: *A very faint nod.*
Morgan: Very well. *Morgan reaches for the brush, and plies the bead out of her hair.* You really did a very good job, yourself, my dear.
Guard: *The guard at the door looks vaguely uneasy, as bashing people over the head is something of a past time on his block. Of course, it is a small brush, and this is the prisoner's daughter.*
Pearl: *Pearl leans forward, allowing her hair to be brushed. She has a very conflicted expression on her face that her mother cannot see... Looking for all the world like a martyr.*
Morgan: *Morgan, conversely, has a soft smile on her normally stern face, as she brushes her daughter's hair out in long, slow strokes, lingering over the physical contact that she hasn't had in a year, and may not for another year. She runs each side of the bow through her hand, from root to tip, before twisting it into its former shape.*
Pearl: *Pearl squirms slightly, jumping down off her mother's lap.* Um, I have training this afternoon, mother. If I don't catch the 11:46 bus I will be late. *She looks abashed.*
Morgan: *Morgan bites her lip.* Of course, my dear. You mustn't be stuck in the city until tomorrow's morning bus.
Morgan: *She reaches for another hug.* I'm so glad you came, my pet.
Pearl: *Hugs her mother back* I'll come back.
Morgan: *Morgan kisses her daughter's head again, carefully.* I know, my dear. I love you.
Pearl: *whispering* I love you too.
Morgan: *Morgan smiles softly as she rises.* And thank you for bringing my favourite things from home. You are sweet.
Pearl: You're very welcome. *She takes her brush and puts it in her bag, collecting it and slinging it over her shoulder.*
Pearl: *With a doleful look.* Goodbye mother. *She lets the guard guide her out of the room and through the hallway.*
Morgan: *Morgan slowly gathers Pearl's gifts in her arms, The scent of strawberries wafts out to her as she clutches the cake box, and she smiles again. Her step is light as she and her guard return to the block, trailing a half-brushed mess of hair and a delectable aroma.*